Honest Thoughts on a Highly-Rated Pasadena Seafood Spot on Yelp 🐟🤔

Fishwives is located in Pasadena Old Town. I’d seen so many friends and bloggers rave about it that it’s been saved on my Google Maps for ages. Finally had the chance to go with a friend recently! The overall atmosphere was nice, and the staff were friendly—but honestly, I wasn’t blown away. It felt pretty average. First surprise: the menu was just one page, plus a separate seafood sheet. Not a ton of options, and it wasn’t divided into apps or mains—instead, it listed cold dishes, hot dishes, soups, and “For the table” (meant for sharing). We weren’t totally used to that style, so we ordered two hot dishes… and they turned out pretty small. Definitely not enough to fill us up. 🌟 Clam Chowder: Not my favorite style—it was on the thinner side, while I prefer a super rich and creamy chowder. It also leaned sweet, probably from the onions and carrots. 😅 But if you like a lighter, brothier clam chowder, you might enjoy this one! 🌟 Fried Oyster on Deviled Eggs: Okay, this was a letdown. The fried oyster coating was too thick and not crispy at all. When I bit into it, there was no juicy burst from the oyster, and the deviled egg flavor was so strong that the oyster got totally lost. 🌟 Jumbo Crab Cake: Nothing wrong with it, but nothing memorable either. It was just… fine. Overall impression: The space is cute, and I think it’s better suited as a spot for drinks and conversation rather than a full meal. Viewing the dishes as “bar snacks” makes more sense. I wouldn’t say it’s bad, but it didn’t meet my expectations. Probably won’t be returning. Also, they’re currently running a DineLA menu—$55 per person. Have you been to Fishwives? What did you think—am I being too harsh? Share your experience below! 👇🍤 #LAEats #LAFoodReview #Seafood #PasadenaEats #Pasadena #LAFood #HonestReview #LAWeekend #RestaurantShare #LADining